Former state Sen. Charles Calderon to run for L.A. judgeship

Former state Sen. Charles Calderon attends a memorial service for his sister-in-law Marcella Calderon in 2012. He has filed papers to run for judge.

Former state Sen. Charles Calderon attends a memorial service for his sister-in-law Marcella Calderon in 2012. He has filed papers to run for judge. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Patrick McGreevy

SACRAMENTO -- Former state Sen. Charles Calderon, a Democrat from Whittier, has filed papers to become a candidate for Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.

Calderon submitted a declaration of intent to run for Office Number 48, the seat of Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sohigian, who is not seeking to be re-elected.

“He’s got a ton of experience, including chairman of [Senate] Judiciary Committee,” said Hal Dash, a campaign consultant for Calderon. “He authored a lot of judicial-oriented legislation.”

Calderon has also worked as a deputy city attorney and for two private law firms.

In the Assembly, Calderon battled with the state court leadership over a bill he introduced that would have transferred more budgetary power to local courts from the state Administrative Office of the Courts.

Calderon served in both houses of the state Legislature, leaving the Assembly because of term limits in 2012. He is the elder member of a family political dynasty from the San Gabriel Valley.

His son, Ian, is a state Assemblyman, and his brother Ronald S. Calderon is a member of the state Senate. His other brother, Tom Calderon, is a former Assemblyman.

Sen. Ronald S. Calderon is the subject of a federal corruption investigation in which a leaked FBI affidavit alleged he accepted bribes to affect bills extending film tax credits and workers compensation benefits. The senator has not been charged with a crime.

Dash said Charles Calderon has a letter from federal prosecutors indicating that he is not a target of their investigation.

Papers for the judgeship have also been filed by Deputy District Attorney Efrain Aceves.